Equipment threader and carrier for stick sports

ABSTRACT

A sports equipment carrier that is woven or threads through one or more pieces of sports equipment, then attaches to itself and finally attaches to the handle of a sports stick. It is a quick, open and secure way to carry equipment on its own separately or attached to the handle of a sports stick. This allows the user to carry the stick and equipment with the stick slung in an over the shoulder fashion. The stick can rest on the users shoulder while the equipment hangs from the handle of the stick behind the user. It can also be carried in the users hand by their side. The stick is easily inserted or removed for play while holding the gear/equipment together. The stick is also protected from damage that can occur from direct contact with the equipment.

This application claims priority of U.S Provisional Application No.60/629,140, filed Nov. 19, 2004.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns a device that is used as an equipment carrierfor stick sports (lacrosse, hockey, field hockey, etc.). This devicethreads or is laced through the equipment, holding it together, thenattaching the device and the equipment to the handle of a stick. Thisinvention is used as a means to hold different pieces of equipmenttogether, allowing the equipment to be carried as one. This device lacesthrough each individual piece of equipment. The equipment is heldtogether by the device and attaches to the handle of a stick, protectingthe stick from direct contact with the equipment. This can be athree-step process. First, lacing the varying pieces of equipment ontothe device, the handle prevents the equipment from sliding off the end.Secondly, the device handle can be placed through the large loop to holdthe equipment in a bundle. It can then be carried at the user's side.Thirdly, sliding the stick handle through the handle of the device so itcan be carried altogether over the shoulder or at the side.

Currently a player has only a couple of options for carrying his/herequipment. The first is using a large, expensive and body odor smellingequipment bag. The second option is to put each piece of equipmentdirectly on the stick handle. This invention enables the player to haveready access to their stick while keeping their gloves, goggles, pads,helmet, etc. intertwined on the device. Once laced together on thedevice the equipment is free to air out from the perspiration gatheredon it during play. Because the equipment is readily seen on the devicethere is no need for a bag search of equipment when entering into astadium.

Several preferred embodiments are presented which are specificallydesigned to hold, protect, organize and carry various pieces ofequipment for stick sports.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention be a carrier forshafted sports equipment, which overcomes the drawbacks of the priorart, and provides a convenient means for binding and carrying, with thestick being easily accessible for use separately.

The above and many other objects, features and advantages of thisinvention will be fully appreciated from the ensuing description ofselected preferred embodiments, with the description to be read inconjunction with the accompanying Drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a view of the threaded equipment on the carrier ready to beplaced on the stick/shaft handle of the stick according to the preferredembodiment of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a front or back perspective view showing the carrier accordingto a preferred embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of this invention showing the handle of thedevice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawing, and initially to FIG. 1, the carrier10 according to the preferred embodiment is shown in use holding variouspieces of equipment/gear 12, and with a stick shafhandle 14 ready toattach through the top loop and handle of the carrier 10. The handle ofthe carrier 10 is designed to hold the stick shaft 14.

As shown in more detail in FIGS. 2 and 3, the carrier 10 of thisembodiment is favorably molded of durable rubber or plastic material.Here, the carrier end 110 is molded into a threading point. The largeloop 112 is wide enough to accommodate the handle 116 and shaft loop 118ofthe carrier 10. The space for equipment 114 is in the middle of thecarrier 10. The handle 116 acts as a stop for the space for equipment114. The shaft loop 118 and handle 116 are small enough for the largeloop 112 to fit over after the space for equipment 114 threads or lacesthrough the carrier end 110.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 the carrier end 110 threads throughthe equipment/gear 12, stopped by handle 116 of the carrier 10. Theequipment 12 now in the space for equipment 114, the large loop 112 islifted over the handle 116 and shaft loop 118 with the carrier end 110resting onto the space for equipment 114 area securing the equipment 12.The handle 116 of the carrier 10 can now be held to receive stick shaft14 through shaft loop 118. The handle 116 of the carrier 10 can carrythe equipment 12 on its own or with the stick shaft 14 through the shaftloop 118 and handle 116 designed to hold the stick shaft 14. The stickshaft 14 can be easily removed from the handle 116 and shaft loop 118for use in play while keeping equipment 12 secured. The stick shaft 14can be easily removed with carrier 10, holding equipment 12 being hungfrom shaft loop 118 onto hook 16 for storage.

While the invention has been described with reference to a specificpreferred embodiment, the invention (Thread-it or Lacer) is certainlynot limited to that precise embodiment. Rather, many modifications andvariations will become apparent to persons of skill in the art withoutdeparture from the scope and spirit of the invention, as defined in theappended claims.

1. A hand-held carrier for holding stick and equipment for a player,comprising: a. a carrier having a pointed end for enabling said carrierto thread through the openings of one or more pieces of equipment, b. aloop attached at each end of said carrier for passing one loop throughthe other, and c. means for inseritng a stick handle through at leastone of said loop, whereby said carrier will hold said stick handleseparately from said equipment.
 2. A hand-held carrier of the typecomprising a cord body of material having a pointed larger loop on oneend thereof, an equipment holding area adjacent to the pointed largerloop end, a gripping handle adjacent to a smaller loop on the oppositeend. The carrier of claim 2 wherein said body of material is composed ofrubber. The carrier of claim 2 wherein said gripping handle extendsperpendicular to each side of said body of material adjacent to saidsmaller loop end. The carrier of claim 2 wherein said equipment holdingarea is elongated. The carrier of claim 2 wherein said pointed largerloop end can pass over said smaller loop on the opposite end of saidcarrier. The carrier of claim 2 wherein said smaller loop on theopposite end and adjacent said gripping handle can pass through saidpointed larger loop end. The carrier of claim 2 wherein said cord bodyof material is colored.
 3. A method of threading and carrying a stickand equipment, comprising: providing a carrier of the type comprising acord body of material having a pointed larger loop on one end thereof,an equipment holding area adjacent to the pointed larger loop end, agripping handle adjacent to a smaller loop on the opposite end,providing various pieces of sports equipment and starting with the saidpointed larger loop of said carrier, threading the said pointed largerloop end through the openings of each piece of said sports equipmentonto said equipment holding area of said carrier, stopping said sportsequipment from falling off the other end of said carrier is the saidgripping handle at the opposite end of said carrier, lifting the saidpointed larger loop end over the said smaller loop on opposite end ofsaid carrier so that said larger loop end passes by and below saidgripping handle to hold said sports equipment from falling off saidcarrier, providing a stick handle and inserting said stick handle sothat is passes through said smaller loop end of said carrier, removingsaid stick handle from said smaller loop while said sports equipmentremains held together on said carrier, whereby said carrier can easilyhold said sports equipment and carry both said sports equipment and saidstick handle separately and together. The method of claim 3 wherein saidcord body of material is composed of rubber.